EFFECT OF HYPOTHERMIC ISCHEMIA AND REPERFUSION ON CALCIUM-TRANSPORT BY MYOCARDIAL SARCOLEMMA AND SARCOPLASMIC-RETICULUM

The effects of hypothermic ischemia and reperfusion on sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport were studied in vesicles isolated from rabbit hearts. Hypothermic global ischemia was produced by immersing hearts in saline at 4°C for 3 h. Following hypothermic ischemia, reperfusion was carried out for 40 min using a Langendorff perfusion system for the working heart. Na+, K+-ATPase activity of sarcolemmal vesicles (SL) was not depressed by hypothermic ischemia nor by ischemia and reperfusion. The initial rate of Na+-Ca2+ exchange in SL vesicles was not depressed, but the maximum amount of Ca2+ uptake was increased both after hypothermic ischemia and after reperfusion. Ca2+ uptake activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles (SR) isolated from hearts subjected to hypothermic ischemia was slightly lower than that of control, and was further reduced following reperfusion. Ca2+-ATPase activity of SR was unaffected by hypothermic ischemia, while it was markedly lowered after reperfusion. Although the phosphoenzyme level in SR vesicles was slightly decreased, the turnover rate was reduced after reperfusion. Reperfusion injury thus took place mainly in SR while SL appeared to be tolerant to ischemia and reperfusion. © 1991.